Breastfeeding provides the best nutrition to babies, since breast milk is full of antibodies, white blood cells and digestive enzymes that formula does not have. Choosing to breastfeed is a gift a woman gives her baby, the benefits of which can last a lifetime. For some women, breastfeeding comes effortlessly. Other women have difficulty with breastfeeding, or must pump their milk in order to continue breastfeeding while going back to work.
Pump and Nurse Often
One of the best tips for breastfeeding women to keep their milk supplies adequate is to breastfeed and pump as often as possible. The National Institutes of Health states that babies need to be fed every 1½ to 2½ hours. The more frequently you breastfeed, the more milk your body will produce. Therefore, if you decide to supplement with formula one or two feedings a day, your body will actually produce less milk. Since pumping generally produces less milk than breastfeeding a baby directly, it is even more important to pump every few hours in order to maintain a good milk supply. Women who pump at work should breastfeed their babies when they get home from work, directly on the breast.
Get Comfortable
Another tip when it comes to successful breastfeeding is to get as comfortable as possible. Leaning over the baby or sitting in an uncomfortable position will make it hard to breastfeed and decrease your motivation to feed every few hours. You may need a stool to support your feet or a pillow to put behind your back. There are also round pillows to put around your waist that hold the baby closer to your body so you don't have to lean over the baby when nursing.
Think of the Baby
Since breast pumps are made out of plastic, there is no hormonal connection that stimulates milk let-down like there is when the baby is present. For this reason, some women have trouble getting enough milk from a breast pump while at work. Pediatrician Dr. Bill Sears states that massaging the breasts for a few minutes before pumping will help to stimulate let-down of the milk so that you get more milk when you pump. Additionally, if you record the sound of your baby crying and listen to it, or bring a picture of your baby to look at while pumping, you will be likely to get more milk.
Ask for Help
Some women feel too embarrassed to ask for help when they have a problem related to breastfeeding, yet it is so important. If you experience any breastfeeding problems such as sore nipples, plugged ducts or engorgement, it is important to always ask for help, or else things could get worse. There are many organizations that are willing to help breastfeeding women for free. La Leche League International holds free breastfeeding support groups every week, all around the world. Many hospitals also have free breastfeeding clinics for mothers in need of help.
